Get Rid of Fleas
The best way to get rid of fleas in the home is with prescription flea remedies available through veterinarians. Although prescription flea remedies can be rather expensive, they really do work, and if you have a severe flea infestation, your best course of action is a prescription from your veterinarian as well as professional extermination.
Many people are able to control and eventually get rid of fleas with effective home remedies. Try the following home remedies, and you might be able to get rid of fleas on your dog or cat as well as in your home without resorting to buying prescription medications and products containing chemicals.
Start With High Temperature Steam Cleaning
Begin your battle against a flea invasion by thoroughly vacuuming and steam cleaning carpets throughout your home. Use the hottest water deemed safe for your carpets to kill flea eggs and larvae, and don’t forget to vacuum and clean furniture and pet bedding. Also, be sure to empty the vacuum bag or canister immediately afterwards or fleas might hatch and make their way out of the vacuum and back into your home.
Orange Oil or Citrus Extract Baths
Some dogs and cats are sensitive to chemical ingredients in pet shampoo, and if you prefer not to use commercial flea shampoo on your dog or cat, try bathing your pet with mild pet shampoo and orange oil. You can find genuine orange oil in most health food stores. Alternately you can try shampoo that contains limonene, otherwise known as citrus extract. These remedies are gentle on sensitive skin, and they are an effective way to get rid of fleas on a cat or dog. Just mix orange oil into the shampoo, and bathe your pet as usual.
Flea Combs
After bathing your pet with one of the abovementioned products, use a flea comb to remove flea eggs as well as adult fleas. Wrap a piece of tape around your finger, sticky side out, and as you comb out fleas, remove them from the comb by touching them with your tape covered finger. Live fleas won’t be able to get away, and you can dispose of the tape and replace it as necessary.
Cleaning and Treating Bedding
Fleas spend a great deal of time off of pets, and simply treating your dog or cat isn’t enough. If your pet has a favorite bed or cushion, don’t forget to clean and treat his bedding. Wash all washable bedding in hot soapy water, and dry it thoroughly.
If you have a dog that uses an outdoor doghouse, don’t forget to clean and treat doghouse bedding. After properly washing and drying doghouse bedding, before replacing the bedding, wash the interior of the doghouse with salt water, and rinse and dry it thoroughly. Pine and cedar are natural flea repellents, so consider placing cedar shavings or fresh pine needles beneath your dog’s bedding.
Homemade Flea Trap
Did you know you could make a homemade flea trap that really works to get rid of fleas? Before you go to bed at night, place a large light-colored shallow bowl filled with soapy water about two feet beneath a 25-watt desk lamp on the floor. The fleas will be attracted to the light, and when they jump towards it, they’ll fall into the water and drown. Change the water daily, and continue trapping and disposing of fleas until the flea problem is under control.
Salt
Salt is said to kill fleas, and salt is safe to sprinkle on dry carpets. In place of using products that contain potentially harmful chemicals, sprinkle salt on dry carpets, and allow the salt to remain undisturbed overnight. Vacuum the salt, dispose of the bag or empty the canister, and repeat this process as necessary in an effort to get rid of fleas in your home.
